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‘We Want To Undo The Myth’: Study Reveals True Toll Of 1789 Smallpox Epidemic Inflicted Upon Aboriginal Australians By British Colonists

Though some had suggested that the disease was introduced by Makassans visiting northern Australia from their islands in Indonesia, researchers discovered that the British ships of the First Fleet were ground zero for the epidemic.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 21, 2026

News

‘We Want To Undo The Myth’: Study Reveals True Toll Of 1789 Smallpox Epidemic Inflicted Upon Aboriginal Australians By British Colonists

Though some had suggested that the disease was introduced by Makassans visiting northern Australia from their islands in Indonesia, researchers discovered that the British ships of the First Fleet were ground zero for the epidemic.

By Ella Spitz • July 21, 2026

Alexander Kliuyev, The Soviet Pilot Who Tried To Land A Plane Blind — And Killed 70 People

Captain Alexander Kliuyev was reportedly trying to land his plane with the cockpit curtains closed on a dare when he overshot the runway, leading to a fiery crash.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 21, 2026

News

Alexander Kliuyev, The Soviet Pilot Who Tried To Land A Plane Blind — And Killed 70 People

Captain Alexander Kliuyev was reportedly trying to land his plane with the cockpit curtains closed on a dare when he overshot the runway, leading to a fiery crash.

By Braden Bjella • July 21, 2026

This Nearly 1,000-Year-Old Engraved Boar Tusk May Have Been A Prized Medieval Good Luck Charm

Researchers believe the rare amulet will shed light on the beliefs and practices of the elite in medieval Russia.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 20, 2026

News

This Nearly 1,000-Year-Old Engraved Boar Tusk May Have Been A Prized Medieval Good Luck Charm

Researchers believe the rare amulet will shed light on the beliefs and practices of the elite in medieval Russia.

By Ella Spitz • July 20, 2026

Ancient Romans Recorded Metallic Objects Moving Through The Sky. Could They Have Been UFOs?

There are reports of ancient Romans seeing mysterious objects fly through the skies, including phantom ships, silver rain, and even entire armies.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 20, 2026

News

Ancient Romans Recorded Metallic Objects Moving Through The Sky. Could They Have Been UFOs?

There are reports of ancient Romans seeing mysterious objects fly through the skies, including phantom ships, silver rain, and even entire armies.

By Braden Bjella • July 20, 2026

The Lane Bryant Murders, The Most ‘Haunted Unsolved Case’ In Illinois History

The Lane Bryant murders of February 2008 left five women dead and a sixth injured — and their killer has yet to be identified.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 18, 2026

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The Lane Bryant Murders, The Most ‘Haunted Unsolved Case’ In Illinois History

The Lane Bryant murders of February 2008 left five women dead and a sixth injured — and their killer has yet to be identified.

By Braden Bjella • July 18, 2026

The Pen That Buzz Aldrin Used To Save The Apollo 11 Mission Just Sold At Auction For $850,000

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin used this pen to activate a damaged circuit breaker, allowing the lunar module to lift off the surface of the Moon.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 17, 2026

News

The Pen That Buzz Aldrin Used To Save The Apollo 11 Mission Just Sold At Auction For $850,000

On July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin used this pen to activate a damaged circuit breaker, allowing the lunar module to lift off the surface of the Moon.

By Ella Spitz • July 17, 2026

Meet The Asaro Mudmen, The Papua New Guinea Warriors Who Disguise Themselves With Eerie Masks

The Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea cover their bodies in white clay and wear terrifying masks, but they're not the fearsome warriors that they appear to be.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 17, 2026

News

Meet The Asaro Mudmen, The Papua New Guinea Warriors Who Disguise Themselves With Eerie Masks

The Asaro Mudmen of Papua New Guinea cover their bodies in white clay and wear terrifying masks, but they're not the fearsome warriors that they appear to be.

By Braden Bjella • July 17, 2026

A Teenage Orphan Who Died In Battle During The Revolutionary War Once Had No Name — But Forensic Scientists Just Identified Him

Researchers discovered that the previously-unknown teenager was John Pumphrey, a boy from Maryland who enlisted in the Continental Army when he was about 14 years old — but sadly died three years later in the Battle of Camden.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 16, 2026

News

A Teenage Orphan Who Died In Battle During The Revolutionary War Once Had No Name — But Forensic Scientists Just Identified Him

Researchers discovered that the previously-unknown teenager was John Pumphrey, a boy from Maryland who enlisted in the Continental Army when he was about 14 years old — but sadly died three years later in the Battle of Camden.

By Ella Spitz • July 16, 2026

An Impostor Fooled An Entire French Village For 4 Years. Then A Man With One Leg Appeared In Court

In the 1550s, an impostor named Arnaud du Tilh convinced a whole town he was a missing man named Martin Guerre, only to be found out in one of the most dramatic ways possible.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 16, 2026

News

An Impostor Fooled An Entire French Village For 4 Years. Then A Man With One Leg Appeared In Court

In the 1550s, an impostor named Arnaud du Tilh convinced a whole town he was a missing man named Martin Guerre, only to be found out in one of the most dramatic ways possible.

By Braden Bjella • July 16, 2026

Iron Shackles Worn By Slaves 2,300 Years Ago Found Alongside Ancient Weapons In Northern France

Archaeologists excavating Celtic ruins in the town of Allonnes discovered 2,300-year-old iron shackles, as well as a religious sanctuary with coins, jewelry, and weapons laid as offerings to the gods.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 15, 2026

News

Iron Shackles Worn By Slaves 2,300 Years Ago Found Alongside Ancient Weapons In Northern France

Archaeologists excavating Celtic ruins in the town of Allonnes discovered 2,300-year-old iron shackles, as well as a religious sanctuary with coins, jewelry, and weapons laid as offerings to the gods.

By Ella Spitz • July 15, 2026

‘Everyone Knew’: Some Believe A General In The American Revolution Was Openly Gay. He Had A Strange Rule For Party Guests

Baron Friedrich von Steuben adopted two adult men and once asked guests not to wear "a whole pair of breeches" to a party, leading to speculation about his sexuality.

By Braden Bjella • Jul 15, 2026

News

‘Everyone Knew’: Some Believe A General In The American Revolution Was Openly Gay. He Had A Strange Rule For Party Guests

Baron Friedrich von Steuben adopted two adult men and once asked guests not to wear "a whole pair of breeches" to a party, leading to speculation about his sexuality.

By Braden Bjella • July 15, 2026

The Body Of ‘Green Boots’ Has Served As A Macabre Guidepost For Mount Everest Climbers For 30 Years. Now, His Identity Was Just Unveiled

For 30 years, "Green Boots" was thought to be the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Officer Tsewang Paljor — but new DNA evidence shows that the body actually belongs to Dorje Morup, a fellow officer from that ill-fated expedition in 1996.

By Ella Spitz • Jul 14, 2026

News

The Body Of ‘Green Boots’ Has Served As A Macabre Guidepost For Mount Everest Climbers For 30 Years. Now, His Identity Was Just Unveiled

For 30 years, "Green Boots" was thought to be the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Officer Tsewang Paljor — but new DNA evidence shows that the body actually belongs to Dorje Morup, a fellow officer from that ill-fated expedition in 1996.

By Ella Spitz • July 14, 2026